Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Cotswold Way descends the steep scarp face along a stony bridle-
way. When it forks take the upper option, now on a footpath. After go-
ing through a gate the way rises then contours along the wooded hillside.
Another gate is met at a junction of paths. Here you veer left, rise a little
then contour once more below an exposed quarried cliff before coming to
a broad crossing track near road-level at Crawley Barns not far from
Uley-
bury Hill Fort
. (To visit the fort simply go up a little further to the left.
The ramparts of this ancient site make for an interesting circuit.)
To continue the route, cross the broad track and descend the bridleway
opposite. It soon becomes embedded in a gully-like sunken track, then
emerges at the foot of the slope between Springfield and Hodgecombe
Farms (accommodation). This is a beautiful, peaceful location with splen-
did views.
ULEYBURY HILL FORT
The hill fort occupies more than 30 acres (12 hectares) of land on the very edge of the
escarpment south-east of Cam Long Down. Dating from the Iron Age it is certainly an
impressive and well-chosen site as it has a 300ft (91m) drop down the scarp face to
help protect it. A ditch and rampart complete the defences. Uleybury has never been
excavated, although second- and fourth-century Roman coins have been found here.
Go ahead on the track towards Cam Long Down. The track veers left to a
narrow country lane where you bear right for about 100 metres or so until
coming to some barns. Go through a gate and continue ahead following
the right-hand fence. A stile takes you out of the field and onto the lower
meadow slopes of
Cam Long Down
. There are very fine views left to the
attractive tree-crowned outlier of Downham Hill. Climb directly ahead up
the steep slope to find a stile and steps under an oak tree. The way now
winds up through a little wooded area on numerous steps, and emerges
onto the summit.
CAM LONG DOWN
The impressive outlier of Cam Long Down came into being, according to legend, when
the Devil decided to dam the River Severn and drown the people of Gloucestershire in
revenge for their having built too many churches. Above Dursley he filled his wheel-
barrow with a great chunk of the Cotswolds, but while resting from his labours along
came a cobbler with a string of shoes to be mended draped around his neck. When
the Devil asked for directions to the river, the suspicious cobbler explained that it was
